A model for the mechanism of enzyme induction.

A sequence of reactions is postulated from which are derived equations describing the time course of enzyme induction. The model also yields the observed effect of the inducer concentration on the time constant and final rate of enzyme synthesis. Features of the model are: (a) The inducer acts first to release the protein forming template from its site of synthesis on the gene. (b) The inducer is involved again in the equilibrium dissociation of the free template-inducer complex which is utilized in the synthesis of the enzyme-forming unit. (c) The final enzyme-forming unit is unstable and must be synthesized continuously to maintain enzyme synthesis.